Railway-roadbed construction



Aprll 15, 1930. P. CHIPMAN 1,754,509

RAILWAY ROADBED coNsTRUcTIpN Filed May 6, 1929 ISSheetS-Sheet l Paw C77z'man Wm M106- d l m I n Elnll vlllle ||l.l|\..|l|| x! |l Illu llxlHElll llllrlll S @o TEFhlmmllwmww-HTEIFL, i mlmlm L Illli. lil. Il lATTORNEYS P. cHlPMAN 1,754,609

RAILWAY ROADBED CONSTRUCTION- Filed May 6, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet '2 April15, 1930 April 15, 1930. P. CHIPMAN 1,754,609

RAILWAY ROADBED CONSTRUCTIONV Filed May 6, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR Paz/Z 7H/birra?? BY Wm MW@ ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 15, 1930UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL CHIPMAN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOROF ONE-HALF TO FRANK H. ALFRED, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN RAILWAY-ROADBEDCONSTRUCTION Application filed May 6,

This invention relates generally to railway roadbed constructionssuch asthat set forth in Patent 1,716,911 granted June 117 1929 to Frank H.Alfred and myself; and consists of 5 certain novel features ofconstruction, com

binations and arrangements of parts that will be hereinafter more fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a railway roadbed embodyingmy invenn tion;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on f, the line Q--Q of Figure1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l-4 of Figure1;

Figure 5 is a top plan view similar to Figure 1 but showing a slightlymodified form of construction;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

25 l Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through themeeting ends of the slabs shown in Figure 5;

Figure S is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through one of thecross walls of 3" the construction shown in Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing another modification;

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view through the construction shown inFigure 9.

In ordinary railroad tracll the rails have two functions; iirst, tocarry the wheels and take the resulting wear; and second, to distributethe load of the wheels over several ties. In the proposed constructionthe rails would be relieved of the second function and would thus bepractically free from tensile stresses. Therefore, the rails could bemade lighter as only a head for wearing and a base for bearing need beprovided, and could also 1929. Serial No. 360,897.

be made harder with a higher carbon content; thus greatly increasingtheir durability.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is a subgrade including superposedlayers 2 and 3 respectively of ballast and sand, 4 is a slab having abase or platform 5 on the sand 3 of the sub-grade and having laterallyspaced longitudinally extending girders 6 and 7 respectively rising fromsaid platform, 8 are longitudinally spaced cross walls or beamsextending transversely of the base 5 between the girders; 9, 10, 11 and12 respectively are reinforcing members for said slab, and 13 and 1&1respectively are rails on the girder portions 6 and 7 of a section of aroadbed embodying my invention. As shown7 the base 5 of the slabcomprises a mass of concrete of suitable dimensions, such as nine feetwide; six inches deep and nineteen and one-half feet long. The girders 6and 7 are also formed of concrete and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4inclusive are integral with the base 5. Preferably these girders areparallel throughout their length and extend upwardly from the baseadjacent to the outer longitudinal edges thereof. The top walls 15 and16 respectively of these girders incline slightly transversely fromtheir outer to their inner longitudinal edges, as shown, and areprovided at approximately the longitudinal centers thereof with shallowupwardly opening channels or recesses 17 and 18 respectively, while theside walls 19 and 20 of each girder diverge downwardly from the topwalls to the base 5. Suitable transversely extending holes or passages21 are formed in the girder 7 at spaced points longitudinally thereof toenable water;` etc., upon the base 5 between the girders to draintransversely of the slab to opposite sides of the base.

Likewise, the cross walls 8 are formed of concrete and are integral withthe base 5 and girders 6 and 7. Preferably these walls eX- tend atsubstantially right angles to the girders at spaced pointslongitudinally of the 90 base 5, but the depth of these cross walls ispreferably less than the depth of the girders.

hus these cross walls 8 form with the base 5 and girders 6 and 7 aseries of upwardly opening troughs that extend longitudinally the slab.As shown, these cross walls are substantially inverted U-shape in crosssection and are provided at the base with holes or passages 22 thatextend transversely thereof and constitute drainage ports or openingsfor water between the troughs longitudinally of the slab.

Preferably, the reinforcing members 9 are in the form of loops of metalthat extend through and tie together the base 5, girders 6 and 7 andcross walls 8. The reinforcing members 10 extend transversely of and areembedded in the base 5 and are provided intermediate of their endsbetween the girders 6 and 7 with upwardly bowed or arched portions 23,while the reinforcing members 11 and 12 respectively are embedded in andcxtend longitudinally of the base 5 and girders.

With this construction the rails 13 and 14 rest upon relatively thinsheets or layers 23 of insulating material such as fibre or wood in therecesses 17 and 18 and are held in place thereon by means of plates 24and bolts 25. As shown, the plates 24 overlap the bases 26 of the railsWhile the bolts 25 extend through these plates and threadedly engagesuitable metal sockets 27 embedded in the girders 6 and 7 upon oppositesides of the recesses 17 and 18.

In Figures 5 to 8 inclusive I have shown a slight modification in whichthe girders 30 and 31 and cross walls 32 are formed separately from butwill be mounted upon the base 33. As shown, this base 33 is nine feetwide, nineteen feet six inches long and six inches high and is providedwith reinforcing mem ers 34 and 35 respectively corresponding to thereinforcing members 10 and 11. 'Ihe girders 30 and 31 are substantiallysquare shape in cross section and rest upon superposed layers 35 and 36respectively of building paper and prepared roofing adjacent to thelongitudinal side edges of the base 33. Suitable reinforcing members 38and 39 corresponding to the members 12 extend longitudinally of thegirders 30 and 31, preferably in two vertically spaced horizontalplanes. Rails 40 and 41 are mounted upon sheets 42 of insulatingmaterial in longitudinally extendin recesses 43 in the girders and aresecured t ereto by bolts 44, plates 45 and sockets 46. The cross Walls32 in this instance however are integral with the girders 30 and 31 onlybut rest upon the base 33 when the parts are assembled. Preferably loops47 of metal corresponding to the loops 9 are embedded in and are used toreinforce the walls 32 and girders 30 and 31. Moreover, with thisconstruction the girders 30 and 31 and cross walls 32 as a unit may beproperly aligned and maintained in such alignment by suitable pegs 49and wedges 50. Preferably, these pegs 49 comprise metal bars havingtheir lower ends embedded in the base 33, and the wedges 50 are of woodand extend between said pegs and the outer walls of the girders.

In Figures 9 and 10 I have shown another modification in which the upperfaces and 61 respectively of the girders 62 and 63 are providedthroughout their length at their inner longitudinal edges withupstanding portions 64 and 65 respectively of substantially square crosssection that constitute guard rails in case of derailment. Otherwise theconstruction shown in these two views is identical with that set forthin Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. Preferably these guard rails 64 and 65 areconcrete and formed integral with the girders 62 and 63. Suitable bars66 of metal are embedded in these guard rails 64 and 65 to reinforce thesame. However, such rails may be separate from and secured to thegirders 62 and 63. For example, old discarded rails may be secured tothe girders at this point.

Thus from the foregoing disclosure it will be readily apparent that thegirders under the rails distribute the wheel loadns longitudinally. Thecross walls or beams together with the loop reinforcements constitutetransverse connections between the girders and maintain them in the sameposition relative to each other. The base or platform under thesegirders and cross walls distributes the load transversely over thesub-grade or earth foundation. The layers of fibre or wood insulationbetween the girders and rails also constitute means to deaden sound andprotection for the concrete.

Preferably, the roadbed construction in accordance with the foregoingwould be formed of a series of slabs which would be pre-cast andarranged end to end. Such castings could be provided with hooks such asembedded in the base 5, whereby such slabs could be lifted by suitablecranes (not shown) to the desired position on the sub-grade. Moreover,tongue and groove connections such as that shown and described in theco-pending application heretofore referred to could be provided betweenthe pre-cast slabs to provide for expansion and contraction thereof dueto changes of temperature, and to prevent adjacent ends of the slabsfrom sagging or moving vertically relative-to each other. For instance,one end of each slab could be provided With a transversely extendingtongue 80, While the opposite end of such slab could be provided with atransversely extending groove 81. Thus, when the slabs are assembled endto end the tongue and groove arrangement would not only effectivelyprevent sagging of such slabs at the joints but would permit contractionand expansion as described. Convenience in lifting the slab,

as hereinafter described, in order to restore the original surface isprobably the most important consideration in determining the properdistance between these joints.

Placing sand, cinders, gravel or crushed stone between and outside ofthe girders is not essential but would generally be desirable: (a) toreduce damage in case of derailment, as a deadener or non-refiector ofnoise and, (c) as a protection against frost and possible heaving duethereto.

It is also desirable to have a method of adjusting the elevation of therails to correct unequal settlement of the sub-grade. To a limitedextent this can be accomplished by inserting shims of wood or metalbetween the rails and their supports. For larger inequalr ties ofsurface it is proposed that the slabs be lifted to the proper elevationby a crane or with jacks and that sand or a grout made of cement andsand be forced between the slab and the earth by means ofcompressed'air. If the platform is made separately, as illustrated inFigures 5 to 8 inclusive, it will be necessary to lift only the frameconsisting of the girders and cross walls in adjusting the surface. Inthis case the filling material could be placed between this frame andthe base or platform. Any suitable means (not shown) may be used toforce sand and the like between the sub-grade and the platform or baseof the slab. Preferably the platform or base 5 of the slab is providedthroughout its length with a longitudinally extending depending bead 5which constitutes an abutment at approximately the longitudinal medianplane of the slab for the sand that is forced between the sub-grade andplatform.

The entire concrete structure including the girders, cross walls andplatform can be built integrally as illustrated in Figures l to 4Linclusive, or if desirable, the platform can be formed separately asillustrated in Figures 5 to 8 inclusive. In any event, the girders andcross walls should be built integrally. 'Ihe concrete may be cast inplace or pre-cast in suitable molds or forms and afterwards placed inthe track. In the vlatter case the sections would be delivered alongsidethe point of use and swung to place with a crane. They would either belaid on a carefully graded bed of sand or be held at the properelevation and sand forced under them with compressed air.

lVhile it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to haveit understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown anddescribed, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fallwithin the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A support for railway rails including a platform of concrete, girdersof concrete on said platform, cross walls of concrete on said platformbetween said girders, reinforcing means for said platform includingmetal members extending transversely of and embedded in said platform,said members being provided intermediate their ends between said girderswith arched portions, and reinforcing means for said girders and crosswalls including elements extending laterally from said cross walls andembedded in said girders.

2. In a railway roadbed, the combination with a track includinglaterally spaced rails, of a support for said rails including a platformof reinforced concrete, laterally spaced girders of reinforced concreteon said platform an d constituting seats for said rails, one of saidgirders having a transversely extending passage therethrough at theplatform for permitting water on the platform between said girders toflow transversely of said platform to the outer edges thereof, and crosswalls on said platform between said girders and having openingsextending therethrough at said platform to permit water to flowlongitudinally of said platform.

In a railway roadbed, the combination with a sub-grade, and a trackincluding laterally spaced rails, of a support for said rails includinga platform on said sub-grade and provided upon its lower face with anabutment for sand and the like forced between said sub-grade andplatform.

t. A support for railway rails including a platform of concrete,laterally spaced rail supporting girders extending longitudinally ofsaid platform, cross walls extending between said girders, andconnections between said girders and cross walls, including metal partsextending longitudinally of the cross walls and having end portionsthereof embedded in the girders.

A support for railway rails including a platform of concrete, laterallyspaced rail supporting girders of concrete movable upon said platform,cross walls connecting into said girders and resting on said platform,reinforcing means embedded in the platform, and connections between saidgirders and cross walls including reinforcing means embedded in saidcross walls and girders, the portions in said girders constitutingextensions of the portions in said cross walls.

6. A support for railway rails including a platform of concrete, girdersof concrete on said platform, cross walls of concrete on said platformbetween said girders, reinforcing means for said platform includingmetal members extendingl transversely of and embedded in said platform,and reinforcing means for said girders and cross walls includingelements extending laterally from said cross walls and embedded in saidgirders.

7. In a railway roadbed, a ground engaglill izo

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ing platform comprising a slab of reinforced concrete having asubstantially Hat upper Surface, rail supporting means adjustablymounted on said platform and including laterally spaced reinforcedconcrete rail supporting girders, and connections between said gilders,and means associated With the platform and lgirdlers for aligning andmaintaining the rail supporting means in proper alignment on saidplatform.

In testimony whereof I aiix my sifrnature.

PAUL oHIPiiAN.

